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MEPs are this week expected to adopt a resolution on the need for actions to address what have been called the continued oppression and fake elections in Belarus.
Greens/EFA MEP Mārtiņš Staķis (Progresīvie) from Latvia, shadow rapporteur on the text, commented on the situation in the country.
Stakis said, “Every day, 1,500 political prisoners in Belarus—teachers, students, journalists, parents—wake up in cells. Not for crimes, but for daring to dream of freedom. Among them is Dzmitry Kuchuk, leader of the dissolved Belarusian Green Party, who has been sentenced to six years in prison simply for standing up for his beliefs.”
“Since the stolen election of 2020, Lukashenko’s regime has turned Belarus into a prison, crushing dissent with torture, blackmail, and fear. This regime is also complicit in Russia’s war crimes, including the kidnapping of Ukrainian children. We must hold the regime’s cronies accountable: freeze their assets and deny them visas. We also need to support the Belarusian people, especially the families of political prisoners. If we fail to act decisively, we send a green light to every dictator watching,” added the MEP.
In Strasbourg, MEPs will also assess the case of Jean-Jacques Wondo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the “systematic repression” of human rights in Iran, notably the cases of Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi, and the taking of EU citizens as hostages, and the case of Boualem Sansal in Algeria. Three separate resolutions will be voted on by MEPs on Thursday.
Elsewhere, members will on Wednesday review the outcome of the 19 December European Council meeting with Presidents António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.
The latest developments in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East are among the expected topics of discussion.
In a packed agenda, MEPs will discuss the programme of Poland’s six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 January, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Commissioner Šuica. Under the motto “Security, Europe!”, Poland will focus on strengthening European security in all dimensions: external, internal, information, economic, energy, food and health.
They will also debate the role of organised crime in migrant smuggling in the EU.
MEPs will debate with Commissioner Brunner and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka how to improve the fight against criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling.
The plenary will additionally discuss with Commissioner Šuica and Polish Minister Szłapka proposals to ensure the EU’s security against hostile actors.
